1946 days ago

Was Bill Sutch a spy?

Reporter Community News

It has taken nearly 50 years but a new book on Bill Sutch is sure to spark debate in to an old controversy.

In September 1974, Bill Sutch was arrested and charged under the Official Secrets Act 1951, after a series of clandestine meetings with KGB agent Dimitri Rasgovorov, an official at the Soviet Union's embassy, in Wellington.

He was subsequently acquitted but documents later found in the KGB archive suggested he was a Soviet agent.

His son-in-law, Keith Ovenden, has now written a book, Bill & Shirley: A Memoir, looking at the life of Sutch and his wife Shirley Smith. Smith was a prominent lawyer and the first woman in New Zealand to be a full member of a university law faculty.

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More messages from your neighbours
23 days ago

Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’

If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.

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21 hours ago

Summer Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

Hannah from Heritage Nursery NZ

Im holding a summer fruit tree pruning workshop at Mangaroa Farms at 12 pm -2 pm on 17th Jan. Cost $35 per person.

We will tackle all things Summer health wise for your fruit trees along with summer tree pruning and why it matters.


If you are interested and planning an orchard in winter, we will also discuss what trees suit our bio region and where to source them.

mangaroa.org...

10 days ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10% Complete
  • 16.9% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    16.9% Complete
  • 73.1% Nah - not for me
    73.1% Complete
1296 votes